UVM President Suresh Garimella to step down for a position at University of Arizona

University of Vermont President Suresh Garimella will step down from his role to accept a position at the University of Arizona.

The Arizona Board of Regents announced Garimella as their top candidate for the position of president earlier this week. UVM Board of Trustees Chair Ron Lumbra sent out an email Friday afternoon to announce Garimella's acceptance of the position.

"The Board is proud of UVM’s trajectory during the five years of President Garimella’s tenure," Lumbra said. "His bold vision and innovative leadership have empowered UVM to 'amplify our impact' here in Vermont and far beyond our borders."

What Garimella accomplished at UVM

Lumbra highlighted a few accomplishments of those five years, including prioritizing access and affordability for students and ensuring they have ample resources. He mentioned Garimella having diversified the breadth of UVM's research excellence and doubled the amount of external support received to fund that research. Garimella’s emphasis on the importance of UVM’s land grant commitment to businesses and communities was also mentioned.

Those accomplishments and his 30-year career in higher education and "student-focused outlook" made Garimella a strong choice for the university, according to various board member remarks at the Arizona Board of Regents meeting that was streamed Friday morning.

Garimella is expected to start later this fall, according to the University of Arizona, a public research-based school with about 53,000 students.

Lumbra said that UVM has "outstanding and experienced leaders who will maintain UVM’s enviable momentum during this time of transition."

They plan to conduct a national search for the next president and have confidence that the university’s successes and trajectory under Garimella’s leadership will help to attract exceptional candidates. Updates on next steps in this process will come soon, but no timeline has been released yet.

Sydney P. Hakes is the Burlington city reporter. Contact her at SHakes@gannett.com .

This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: UVM President Suresh Garimella to step down for a position at University of Arizona